Shall we count to 10?

The perplexed look on my face, along with the act of shrugging my shoulders, answered the question that I didn’t take too seriously.

Could you blame me?

It is awfully difficult to call upon a tarot card reader and/or a psychic at such short notice. I follow my horoscope daily, but short sentences defining a Libra’s day to day happenings could not be of any help.

I suppose I could have taken the easy way out and answered that in 10 years, I will be living in a beautiful home with a loving husband. I will also rescue abused and abandoned animals and give my money to various charities. But I think the person who inquired about my future may have wanted a more specific description of life in 2019.

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If that’s the case, here goes my detailed forecast:

Ten years from now, I can be found onstage, pointing my microphone to a sizeable crowd that wants to sing along and enjoys taking pictures of me every five seconds.

I will put other celebrities’ outfits to shame as I glide across the red carpet during award show ceremonies, declining interviews in the effort to stay out of the tabloids. I will also autograph a picture of myself for Robin Williams and if he’s lucky, Jay Leno.

When I feel the need to escape, I will decide to travel to distant places around the world. The paparazzi will inevitably follow. But so will my bodyguards.

When I discover a beautiful island during one of my excursions, I will purchase it and drink Dr. Pepper on my private beach.

If the sun has no mercy on me while I’m resting on that beautiful beach, I’ll fly to New York City and indulge in the Grand Opulence Sundae, priced at $1,000, just to make myself feel better.

OK, OK, maybe I should stop while I’m ahead. Hopefully a decade from now, I won’t forget how important it is to humor myself!

Perhaps a more interesting thought is what I will look like approximately 3,650 days from this point in time. Maybe I’ll have a unibrow and rotten teeth. Or I could have paid for some plastic surgery.

Actually, I hope that neither of those choices will apply to my appearance. I intend to age in a healthy manner by practicing good hygiene and not wasting any money on Botox.

I do not expect to appear in infomercials explaining how to “age well” because from what I’ve heard, weight can oftentimes accompany age. I would be willing to bet that my love for cookies and ice cream will not fail me 10 years down the road; realistically, I can only anticipate some weight gain.

It is also important to add that in the time span of one decade, the Steelers will win a few more Super Bowls, following an incredible win on Feb. 1. If I am fortunate enough, I will be in the stands during one of those Super Bowl victories and Mr. Hines Ward will pick me out of the crowd to share with him an exchange of pearly whites.

I don’t necessarily expect to be living a picture-perfect life that is displayed within a gold frame. If there is anything I do know about my future, though, it is that I will remain an optimistic person who recognizes the blessings associated with everyday life. Life isn’t perfect, but happiness is always obtainable.

Happiness places the ice cubes in a warm drink. If my life at 29 years of age was portrayed as a drink, I would want it to be described as half full, not half empty. It won’t taste the same everyday because I want to experience all the flavors of life. Most importantly, I intend to share this drink with family and friends.

The drink must be refilled when the last drop touches my tongue. And if my drink happens to fall on the floor, someone will pick it up for me.

Am I indicating that in 10 years I will have enough money to afford a maid? Of course not!

Well, on second thought, if I am saving all that money by avoiding Botox injections, why not?

Kayla Pongrac is the daughter of Greg and Maryann Pongrac, Stoystown. She is a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.